13. Consider, God takes most pleasure in our positive Holiness. It's true he is pleased to see men deny ungodliness and worldly lusts; but nothing to that pleasure which he takes in seeing them live righteously, soberly, and godly in this present evil World. He likes ceasing from evil, because it's agreeable to his Word; but he likes better doing of good, because it's more conformable to his Will, Isa. 64.5. Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and ⟨p. 354⟩worketh righteousness. Thou meetest him with the riches of Mercy, who worketh what is good with alacrity. If he come to thee, thou wilt not cast him away; nay, thou wilt run to meet him, and embrace him. As the Father of the Prodigal ran to meet his returning Son, Luke 15. And as one at odds, but willing to be reconciled, tells us, He will meet his Opposite half-way. And I may say of Gods meeting a Soul that worketh Righteousness, as God tells Moses; Behold, Aaron thy Brother comes to meet thee, and when he seeth thee, he will be glad at his heart. Behold, thy God and Father cometh to meet thee, and when he seeth thee, working Righteousness, he will be glad at his heart; nay, so glad, that the disadvantage of a mans Country shall not hinder him of this kindness, Acts 10. And Peter said, I perceive now that God is no Respectre of persons; but in every Nation, he that feareth God, and worketh Righteousness, is accepted of him. God proclaimeth to all the World, That he delighteth in such a mans way, Psal. 73.23. and therefore his Word which he hath given us for our ⟨p. 355⟩Rule herein, is called his good and acceptable Will, Rom. 12.2. And the reason is, because such persons are most like God, therefore they have most of his love and delight. God is a pure Act, and so cannot but approve of them that are active. He is ever at work, Joh. 5.17. Hitherto my Father worketh, and I work. And its righteousness he is always working, The Lord is holy in all his Ways, and righteous in all his Works, Psal. 145. He is good, and doth good; so that those who are positively holy, do most resemble him, and so do most delight him. We all take most pleasure in those Children that are our exactest Pictures. Reader, art thou negatively holy; Canst thou say, I am no Drunkard, no Glutton, no Adulterer? thou mayst say this, and be like the Devil, for the Devil himself may say as much.
13. COnsider, God takes most pleasure in our positive Holiness. It's true he is pleased to see men deny ungodliness and worldly lusts; but nothing to that pleasure which he takes in seeing them live righteously, soberly, and godly in this present evil World. He likes ceasing from evil, because it's agreeable to his Word; but he likes better doing of good, because it's more conformable to his Will, Isa. 64.5. Thou meetest him that rejoyceth and ⟨p. 354⟩worketh righteousness. Thou meetest him with the riches of Mercy, who worketh what is good with alacrity. If he come to thee, thou wilt not cast him away; nay, thou wilt run to meet him, and embrace him. As the Father of the Prodigal ran to meet his returning Son, Luke 15. And as one at odds, but willing to be reconciled, tells us, He will meet his Opposite half-way. And I may say of Gods meeting a Soul that worketh Righteousness, as God tells Moses; Behold, Aaron thy Brother comes to meet thee, and when he seeth thee, he will be glad at his heart. Behold, thy God and Father cometh to meet thee, and when he seeth thee, working Righteousness, he will be glad at his heart; nay, so glad, that the disadvantage of a mans Country shall not hinder him of this kindness, Acts 10. And Peter said, I perceive now that God is no Respecter of persons; but in every Nation, he that feareth God, and worketh Righteousness, is accepted of him. God proclaimeth to all the World, That he delighteth in such a mans way, Psal. 73.23. and therefore his Word which he hath given us for our ⟨p. 355⟩Rule herein, is called his good and acceptable Will, Rom. 12.2. And the reason is, because such persons are most like God, therefore they have most of his love and delight. God is a pure Act, and so cannot but approve of them that are active. He is ever at work, Joh. 5.17. Hitherto my Father worketh, and I work. And its righteousness he is always working, The Lord is holy in all his Ways, and righteous in all his Works, Psal. 145. He is good, and doth good; so that those who are positively holy, do most resemble him, and so do most delight him. We all take most pleasure in those Children that are our exactest Pictures. Reader, art thou negatively holy; Canst thou say, I am no Drunkard, no Glutton, no Adulterer? thou mayst say this, and be like the Devil, for the Devil himself may say as much.
